Jigsaw puzzle and rack therefor



Sept-.7, 1948. s. H. GAlNsLl-:Y 2,448,657

JIG-SAW PUZZLE AND RACK THEREFOR Filed Nov. 5o, 1944 3mm/1M Sheldon Gaqsllj Patented Sept. 7, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JIGSAW PUZZLE AND RACK THE'REFOR Sheldon H. Gainsley, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application November 30, 1944, Serial No. 565,817

3 Claims. l

My invention relates to puzzles and has for an object to provide a puzzle of the type in which a number of complementary pieces having meandering edges adapted to lit the edges of other pieces are assembled to form a composite gure.

An object of the invention resides in providing a supportfor holding the pieces in assembled relation.

Another object of the invention resides in constructing the support in the form of a rack on which the pieces are assembled.

A still further object [of the invention resides in providing a guide with means on certain of the pieces forming a guideway adapted to engage the guide and hold the pieces in assembled relation.

Another object of the invention resides in constructing the rack with one or more uprights and in forming the pieces with grooves or holes adapted to receive the uprights, thereby supporting the pieces.

A feature of the invention resides in constructing the rack with a base to which the uprights are attached.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a puzzle illustrating an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the puzzle structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2' of a modification of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of still another form of the invention.

In the working of puzzles comprising complementary pieces adapted to be assembled, the usual practice is to lay the pieces on a at surface during assembly and to fit the same together while so arranged. During the assembly, the order of the pieces is frequently unintentionally disturbed, t-o the annoyance of the worker of the puzzle. After assembly, it becomes impossible to remove the assembled pieces from the surface on which they rest, without having the pieces falling apart. The present invention provides a construction whereby the pieces may be assembled either while flat on a table or in upright position and which, after assembly, permits of carrying the puzzle about.

My invention comprises a puzzle including a 2 board Ill divided into numerous pieces to be subsequently described in detail, and which are assembled on a support in the form of a rack. These parts will now be described in detail.

The board I0 may be constructed of Wood, plywood or some other material and has a face |2 on which a picture I3 or other form of embellishment is placed. This m-ay be directly printed on the board o r the same may consist of a sheet of paper having a picture printed thereon and glued to the board. The board I0, with the picture thereon, is cut up to form a number of pieces Ida, |417, |4c, Md, etc. These pieces are constructed by sawing thev board with a jig-saw or similar tool, along meandering lines |5a, |5b, |5c, etc. By means of this construction, the pieces are provided with meandering edges I'Ea, IBb, |60, etc., which fit corresponding edges Ila, llb, llc, etc., of other of the pieces. When the various piecesv are assembled, as shown in the drawings, they form a composite ligure, Iwhich shows the picture I3 in its complete form.

The support is in the form of a rack and consists of a base I8 to which two uprights I9 and 2| are attached. These uprights constitute rack bars, the cross section of which is best shown in Fig. 2. Each of these rack bars is provided with a guide 22 which, in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, consists of a dove-tailed tongue. In the back of the board l0 are cut two dove-tailed slots 23 which are spaced from one another the exact distance apart of the tongues 22 and which receive the said tongues. It will becomey evident that when the board is cut up into the various pieces that the grooves 23 extend through the said pieces. With my invention, the lines I'Sa, |5b, l5c, etc., preferably traverse the extent of the grooves 23, so that portions of the pieces are left intact to engage the tongues 22 on both sides thereof and to thereby rmly secure the pieces to the support when the pieces are assembled on the rack. The various cuts are made so that the lines intersect at least one of the grooves 23 and in some of the pieces, two of said grooves.

For holding the various pieces in position, the ends 24 of the uprights I9 and 2| extend above the uppermost edge 25 of the board I0. In these ends are drilled holes 23 which receive pegs 21 frictionally held in place in said holes. These pegs are disposed above the edges 25 and restrain movement of the pieces in an upward direction. The lowermost pieces Mh and Mi rest directly upon the base I8 and downward movement of the pieces along the guides or uprights I9 and 2| is thus prevented by means of said base.

The method of using the invention is as follows: The support or rack I I is preferably arranged in upright position, resting upon the base I8. The various pieces are then selected and assembled on the uprights I9 and 2| by causing the ends 24 of said uprights to enter into the grooves 23 of the various pieces. After the pieces have been properly assembled, the pegs 21 are inserted in the holes 26 and the various pieces are held in proper assembled relation.

In Fig. 4, I have shown a modification of the invention in which the board fwhich is"divi'd`ed to form the pieces, is indicated lby the reference numeral IIE) and the various piecesy bythe numerals IIIa, Ilflb, etc. tailed grooves 23 used in the pieces of the other Instead of the .doveform of the invention, two spaced roundfholes t |23 are drilled in each piece parallel to each other andh parallel to they faces H2 of the board,y IIIl'. These holes receive two rodsl |24 whichvare secured to a base in the same manner as the uprights'i and'2I of the other form of the invention. With this form-of the invention, the rods I24take the placecof the tongues 22 and also servef afs-the uprghts for supporting the pieces. The manner of use of this form of theinvention isthe same as' thatdescribed .in connection-With the device shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, and will not be repeated.

v`Insteadfof using a roundrod Ior doWel pinfor supporting the pieces of the puzzle as shown in Figli, an upright or rectangular cross section such -as` indicated at |25- invFig.-5 may loe employed. With such construction, a single support will suilice.- This upright is received Vin a rectangular shaped hole |26 in the pieces |21 which is formed by cutting a groove in from the backsIZIiof the piecesl |21 having dove-tailed recesses I 29. adjacent the back |28. In the-seI recesses is glued a key- |3I. which closes the slot to formthe hole |26.

The advantages of 4the invention -are manifest. uBy means of -my invention, the various pieces of the board are held in assembledy relation, preventing disturbance of the assembly duringthe. assembly of the ypieces and after completionof the assembly. With my inventiony the puzzle, after assembly, can bev picked up and moved about. The assembly can take place while the, puzzle. islying in horizontal position .upon a table Vor while the same is .inupright position. Likewsethecompleted puzzle can be left lying at on a table or the same can be elevated or supported by the base of the rack on which the pieces are mounted. My improved puzzle involves little additional expense and may be manufactured at an economical cost. With my invention, the pieces are less likely to be lost.

Changes in the specic form of my invention, as herein described, may be made Within the scope of what is claimed Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as ,new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

' l. A puzzle comprising a number of comple-- `:nrentarypieces''having meandering edges adapted to t the edges of other pieces, said lpieces being fadapted-ftoibeiassembled to form a composite figure,.arack.including a rack bar, a tongue on said rack bar, and grooves formed in said pieces and adapt/edito receive said tongue to hold the pieces in assembled relation.

2. A puzzle comprising a number of complementary pieces having meandering edges adapted to fit the'edges of other pieces, said-pieces'being adapted to be assembled to form a composite figure, a rack including arack bar, ay dovetailed tongue on said rack bar, and dovetailed grooves formediin said pieces and adapted itc-receive said tongue to hold the pieces in assembled relation.

`33A. puzzle comprising a number of complementary pieces having meandering edges adapted tot the edges of other pieces, said pieces being adapted to be assembled to form afcomposite figure, aA support including a guiderectangularv in cross section, certain of said pieces having `a groove extending through the :back thereofV andadapted toreceive said guida-said groove being formedwith dove-tailed recesses near the back of the piecesl and a key closingv Ysaid" groovev and overlying said guide, said key being received Within said recesses.

A SHELDON H. GAINSLEY.

REFERENCES CITED l r'Ehe following references are of record: in the le'of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 964,065 Snedeker July 12, 1910 FOREIGN' PATENTS Number Country Date 261,772 Germany July 1'0, 1913 

